Washing machine



Sept. 26, 1933. w J BYRNE 1,928,479

WASHING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 flfforne yo.

Sept. 26, 1933. w B RNE WASHING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1930 sSheets-Sheet 2 /nver\for,

e mm W! B h a w J Tm Sept. 26, 1933. w J BYRNE 1,928,479

WASHING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 3 MY/iam Jose oh By/ne47 I I 1 48 5/ Patented Sept. 2%, 193533 WASHHNG IHACHHNE William Josephifyrne, llndianapolis, llnd.

Application May 31, 1935.

24 Claims.

lhis invention relates to the art of washing machines particularly ofthe type a apted to he used in commercial dry cleaning ano undryestablishments, and this application is a continuation in part of myprior application for U. S. Letters Patent filed November 22, 1929, Ser.No. 109,108. l

important objects of my invention reside in providing structure whereinthe outer hull may he revolved to the elevation of the door openingthereinfroin the floor; wherein an unloading platform maybe readilyinserted from either of two doors in the inner cylinder; and wherein asafety blast relief is automatically provided prior to opening of adoor, in th hull.

' Other objects reside in the various unique coinbinations of elementspermitting a simplified structure capable of being produced at arelatively low cost and of being operated with the minimum expenditureof effort upon the part of the operator. These and additional objectswill be apparent in the following description of the invention asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top planview of a machine can bodying my invention;

Fig. 2, a front elevation;

Fig. 3, a right hand end elevation;

Fig. l, a left hand end elevation;

Fig. 5, a detail of the hull shifting mechanism in right hand elevation;v

Fig. 6, a fragmentary vertical transverse section through the hull, withthe doors open;

Fig. l a vertical transverse section through the cylinder only with thedoors closed;

Fig. 8', a horizontal longitudinal section through the cylinder on theline 8-8 in Fig. 7

Fig. 9, a fragmentary front elevation of a modi [10 fled form. of fluidintake piping; and J2 ture shown in Fig. 9.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews in the drawings.

l form the two symmetrical supporting standards l5 and 16 to haveessentially an inclined A built up from structural channel iron, eachhaving a vertical rear leg 17, an inclined front leg 18 welded to therear leg at the top, a'hori- 7 zontal lower tie 19, and the centralbrace 29, extending at right angles from the front leg 18 downwardly toabut the rear leg 17. The front leg 18 is preferably sloped toward andunited with the rear leg 17 at an angleof thirty degrees, whereby onlysixty and ninety degree cuts are required on the ends of the tie 19 and29. Longitudinal members 21 and 22 tie the standards together near theirlower ends.

On the outer faces of the front legs" 18 of the standards are fixed thebearing plates 23 and 24 6 directly over the braces20, which bearingsro- Fig. re, a left hand side elevation of the struc- Serial No. 253,

y on, 1 provide bands of strap iron, 28 23, on atveach end, to passcircumferentially round to have their rear ends secured to the member 22and their front endsv to the upper ends of links 30 which are pivotallysecured to the inenloer 21, Figs. 3 and l, and. a shaft 31, ly supportedbetween the front legs 13, hit; earns 32 adjacent the links 30 and aforwardly extending arm 33, whereby downward pressure on the arm 33 willrock the cams 32 against the links 30 to swing them, rearwardly andhence pull downwardly on the hands 28 and 7 29 to tighten them againstthe hull 2'7.

Cleaning fluid is supplied to the hull 27 through a fitting 3% ed on theback of the standard 15 from which a length of flexible hose 35 extendsto an L 36 which screw-threadedly fits into the wall of the hull 27. Thefluid may be drained from the hull 2? through the L 37 in the bottom ofthe hull 2?, through the flexible hose 38, the fitting 39 fixed to thetie 19, the valve 40, and out the pipe l1. To prevent overflow of the g5hull, a hy-pass is provided around the valve 40, Fig. 4, in the form ofthe vertical pipes 43 and 4 1- with the horizontal connection 45thereetween. By providing the flexible hose 35 and 38, the hull 2'7 mayhe rocked through an appre- 9o ciaole circumferential travel beforebeing limited bythe hose l ngths.

A cylinder 46 is carried within thehull 2'7 and has shafts 47, and 48extending longitudinally through the hull trunnions25 and 26 to bei'ockably carria in the bearings 49 and 50 mounted on the legs 18 of thestandards 15. and'lii whereby the cylinder may be revolved within thehull "rdependentiy of rotation of the hull. ,The

48 extends beyond the bearing 50 and has a sour gear 51 fixed thereon,which gear meshes idler gear 52. A drive gear 53 meshes with the idlergear 52 and is fixed on the end of the shaft Mcarrying the drivingpulleys 55.

A housing 56 is provided to enclose the gearing. A crank shaft 5"! isrotatably supported on the standard 16 to he iixed'longitudinallythereover.

On the inner end of the shaft 57 is a gear 58 in constant mesh with arack gear 59 fixed on the end of the hull 22 On the outer end of theshaft 5'2, is carried a hub 61 with a gear 62 on the inner end and acrank 63 on the outer end.

An annular slot 6% is forined in the hub outside of the gear 62 and apin 65 normally extendsfto wi n the slot to prevent longitudinalmovement of the hub 61 along the shaft 57. In that position the gear 62is out of mesh with the 51. he outer end of the shaft 5'] has a pin 66or. Log diametrically therethrough, the ends of which are engaged inslots across the 20 outer end of the hub 61. Thus, upon rotation of thecrank 63, with the pin 65 entered in the slot 64, the shaft 5'! isrevolved through the pin 66 to revolve the gear 58, which in turn causesthe hull 27 to revolve, upon release of the bands 28 and 29.

Upon pulling the pin 65 out of the slot 64, the hub 61 may be shiftedinwardly along the shaft 5'7 to mesh the gear 62 with the gear 51,whereupon, revolving the crank 63, will revolve the cylinder 46 withinthe hull, without moving the hull. A plate 67, fixed on the outer end ofthe shaft 18 has a double ended arrow 58 painted thereon to indicate thepositions of the doors 69 and '70 in the cylinder, so that, uponregistering either head of that arrow 68 with the fixed point '71 on thehousing 56, either door in the cylinder will be properly presented forunloading the cylinder as will hereinafter be explained.

The hull 27 is entirely closed save for an opening '72 for a lengthcircumferentially therearound, the normal position of which opening ison the upper side of the hull. Arms '73 and '74 are hinged respectivelyto the upper ends of the standards 15 and 16 and carry between theirouter free ends the transverse bar '75, with the brace bar '76tlierebehind. A door '77 is hingedly supported by the bar '75 by thestraps '78 and '7 9 extending from under the outer ends of the door andwrapping around, over and downwardly about the bar.

A center strap is provided to support the center of the door. The door'77 carries a front door 81 hinged thereto along its front edge, thecombined doors being sufiicient to cover the opening '72 into the hull27. Along the under side of the front edge of the front door is a lip 82which enters under the edge of the opening into the hull and preventsthe upward swing of the door 81. The rear door '77 may be lifted freelyfrom over the opening 72.

Wooden cam blocks 83 and 85 are fixed to the ends of the hull 2'7 toproject beyond the circumference thereof and are positioned relative tothe opening '72 into the hull 27 whereby rotation of the hull willimmediately enter theblocks under the rear upturned ends of the straps'78 and '79 to lift the back edge of the door '77 thereby venting thehull before the front door 81 may be opened by reason of the restrictinglip 82. Continued rotation of the hull 2'7, by the crank 63 as abovedescribed, will carry the hull around to bring the forward edge of theopening '72 out from over the lip 82 and from under the door 81 wherebythe door 81 may then be lifted and swung around upwardly and rearwardlyto permit access to within the hull. The blocks 83 and 85 have, uponsuch rotation, moved around until the door '77 is entirely lifted andspaced upwardly from the surface of the hull, thereby preventing thepossible production of sparks from rubbing metal over metal, the blocksbeing preferably made of wood. The lower edge of the opening '72 isbrought around and down to a convenient height over which an operatormay work in loading and unloading the cylinder 46.

The cylinder 46 is revolved by the crank 63, as above described, tobring either one of the two doors 69 or '70, here shown as 70, aroundand under the opening '72 so that the door '70 may be opened outwardlyand upwardly therethrough, Fig. 6, to permit access to within thecylinder 46. In order that an operator will not have to put his headinto the cylinder to unload it, I provide an unloading platform 86, hereshown as built up from slats. On each side of the platform are twoprojecting fingers 8'7 and 88 respectively, Figs. '7 and 8. The platform86 is inserted through the opening of the door '70 in the cylinder asand the fingers 8'7 on the far side are engaged in notches providedtherefor along the edge of the door 69 and under the rib 89. The

near edge of the platform is then just above the rib 90 and the fingers88 extend outwardly therefrom to be received in notches in the loweredge of the door '70, which may then be closed. The cylinder is revolved180 degrees to bring the door 69 around to the hull opening '72, whichaction has brought the clothing (not shown) previously under theplatform around and on the then top appearing side so that the clothingmay readily be reached and pulled over the platform and out the opening'72. Obviously the hull and cylinder may be stopped to provide any angleof slope desired to the platform. Upon unloading, the platform may beremoved from the door 69 at once without further rotation of thecylinder.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, in place of employing the intakefitting 34 and the hose 35, fluid may be introduced to spray down overthe cylinder 46 to enter the holes 91 therein, by introducing the fluidthrough a fitting 92 centrally carried between the standards 15 and 16,a length of flexible hose 93, a Y-fitting 94 and the laterals 95 and 96to the distributing pipe 97 which is substituted for the bar '75 betweenthe arms '73 and '74. Nozzles 98 project from the under side of the pipe9'7 through the door '77. Thus, the pipe 97 is raised and lowered withthe door 77 by the blocks 83 and 85.

In dry cleaning establishments where volatile grease dissolving fluidsare employed, it is a frequent occurrence to have explosions within thehull and many operators have been injured thereby. With my construction,the rear door '77 is always free to be lifted upon an interiorexplosion, and the blast therefrom is directed rearwardly away from theoperator who may be in front of the machine. Furthermore, as aboveindicated, the front door may not be opened until after the rear hasbeen opened to vent the hull. Chemicals are frequently added to thefluid within the hull while the cylinder is being revolved. As aprecaution against injury to the hull 2'7 through which wrenches may beinserted to tighten bolts 103 through the flanges 102 supporting thecylinder 46.

While I have here shown and described my invention in the one best formas now known to me, it is obvious that structural changes may be madetherefrom without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I,therefore, do not desire to be limited to that form nor any more thanmay be required by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, a pair of standards, a hull revolvablysupported between the standards, a brake means for holding the hullagainst accidental movement and manually operated means for releasingthe brake and means for operator during this addition, I provide afiller moving the'hull when thus released to selective positions. i I

2. In a washing a pair of standards, a hull revolvably supported betweenthe standards, a cylinder revolt/ably positioned in the hull, a brakemeans iorholding the hull against accidental movement, manually operatedmeans for releasing the brake and means for moving the hull when thusreleased to selective positionand for moving the cylinder to selectivepositions relativeto the positions of hull.

3, In a Washing machine, a pair a hull revolva'oly supported between thestandards, a cylinder revolvably positioned in the hull, and means forselectively retai Lng the hull at circumferential points of travel, saidhull having an opening therein normally turned upwardly, a coverfor saidhull opening, and means for holding said cover in a position relative tooircumferential movement of the hull.

4. In a washing machine, pair of standards, a hull revolvably supportedbetween the stan ards, a cylinder revolvably positioned in'the hull, andmeans for selectivelyretaining the hull at circumferential points oftravel, saidhull having anopening therein normally turned upwardly, acover for said hull opening, and means for holding said cover in a fixedpositionrelative to circumferential movement of the hull, said coverhaving a rear door and a front door hinged in relation to the rear door,and means retaining said front door in a closed position over said hullopening until after saidrear door has started to open.

ards, a cylinder revolvably positioned in the hull,

means for selectively retaining the hull at cir eurnferential points oftravel, said hull having a loading opening, a cover for the opening andmeans supporting said cover to cause cover to open and direct theexhaust of a blast rearvvardly from said opening.

6. In a washing machinaa pair of standards,a

hull revolvably supported between the standards, a cylinder revolvablypositione. thehull, and

means for selectively retaining the hull at circumferential points oftravel, saidhull having an opening therein normally turned upwardly, a

cover for said hull; opening, -means for'holding' said cover in a fixedposition'relative to circumferential movement .of the hull, and lipmeans normally retaining the front end or" said cover closed over thefront end of aid opening whereby said hull required to he revolved'a.distance to release said cover retaining "i. In a washing machine, apair of a hull revolvably supported between the standards, acylinder'revolvably positioned in the hull, and means for selectivelyretaining the hull at circumferential points of travel, said hull havingan opening therein normally turned upwardly, a cover for said hullopening, and the 1 lative to ciring said cover in a fixed posit.

cumferential movement of he hull,the rear end of. said cover being freeto be lifted upwardly;

8. in a washing machine, a pair of standards, a hull revolvablysupported between the standar "s, a cylinder revolvably positioned. inthe hull, and means for selectively retaining the hull atcircumferential points of travel, hull havingan opening therein normallyturned upwardly,

' cover for said hull opening, for holding said cover in a flXSlilposition relative to cir cumferential movement of the hull, and "meansof standards,

1s for holdjior lifting and holding said cover away from the hull duringmovement of the hull.

9. In a washing machine, a pair of standards,

a hull revolvably supported between the stand a cylinder revolvablypositioned in the hull, and means for selectively retaining the hull atcircumferential points of't 'avel, said hull having an opening thereinnormally turned upwarda cover for sad hull opening, and means forholding'said cover in a fixed position relative tocircumferential"rnovement of the hull, the rear end of said cover beingfree to be lifted upwardly, and. cam means initially lifting the rearend of the cover upon forward travel of the hull.

10. In a Washng machine, a pair of standards, a hull revolvablysupported between the stan ards, cylinder revolvably positioned in thehull, and means for selectively retaining the hull at circumferentialpoints of travel and for correspondingly moving the cylinder to bringthese door openings together, operated by a common,

shaft, said reta ning means comprising a memher frictionally engagingthe hull and a lever forcing the member against the hLLl.

11. In a washing machine, a pair of standards, a hull revolve-lilysupported between the standards, a cylinder revolvably positioned in thehull, and means for selectively retaining the hull at circumferentialpoints of travel, a driving gear member for revolving the cylinder, atoothed member on the hull, a rotatable shaft fitted longitudinally, agear on the shaft in fixed engagement with said toothed member, a crankfor revolving the shaft, a gear rotatable on the shaft and slidablethereon into mesh with the cylinder rotating gear, means for connectingthe crank and slidablegear to rotate the slidable gear stop means forholding the slidable gear out of mesh with the cylinder rotating gear.

P. In a washing machine, a pair of standards, a hull revolvablysupported between the stand ards, a cylinder revolvably positioned in thhull, means for selectively retaining the-hull at circumferential pointsof travel, fluid filling means, fluid drain means, overflow dischargemeans discharging means for preventing the filling of said hull above apredetermined level and adjustable conneotions between said hull andsaid filling means and sad hull and said drain means permitting rotationof the ,hull.

13. In a washing-machine, a pair of standards, a hullrevolvahlysupported between the standards," cylinder revolvablypositioned'in the null, and means for selectively retaining the hull atcircumferential points of travel, a door on each site of saidcylnder[diametrically opposed'one from the other, each of-saiddoorsbeing provided with finger receiving notches in their free outer and adraining and unloading platform detachably mounted in the drumandjhaving fin- ,gers projecting from opposite ends of said platformadapted to enter the notches of the doors when; the latter are closed,said p atform being adapted to be inserted through either of said doorsto have the fingers on the'lar side of the and means for selectivelyretaining the hull at circumferential points of travel, a pair of doorsthrough fluid d rain' on said cylinder diametrically opposed one fromthe other, each of said doors being provided with finger receivingnotches in their free outer ends, and a draining and unloading platformdetachably mounted in the drum and having fingers projecting fromopposite ends of said platform adapted to enter the notches of the doorswhen the latter are closed, said platform being adapted to be insertedthrough either of said doors to have the fingers on the far side of theplatform enter the notches in the other door then closed and to have thefingers on the near side of the platform be received in the notches ofthe near door when closed, and a rib across the cylinder along the sideof the opening at each door toward. which the free end of the doorswings, said fingers on the far side of the platform being below the ribadjacent the closed door, and thefingers on the near side being abovethe rib at the open door.

15. In a washing machine, a pair of standards,

a hull revolvably supported between the stand-i circumferential pointsof travel, a pair of arms rockably supported from the standards, atransverse bar between the arms, said hull having an opening therein, adoor hingedly connected to said bar and normally resting against thehull across the opening and a cam block carried by and projecting beyondthe periphery of the hull adapted to enter under said door upon initialtravel of the hull.

16. In a Washing machine a pair of standards, a hull revolvablysupported between the standards, a cylinder revolvably positioned in thehull, and means for selectively retaining the hull at circumferentialpoints or" travel, a pair of arms rockably supported from the standardsa transverse bar between the arms, said hull having an opening therein,a door hingedly connected to said bar and normally resting against thehull across the opening and a cam block carried by and projecting beyondthe periphery of the hull adapted to enter under said door, said doorcovering the rear part onlyoi said hull opening and being hinged to saidbar by its forward end, a second door hinged to the. first door adaptedto extend forwardly to cover the remainder of said hull opening, and alip on the uncle side of the second do r adapted to drop down into saidhull opening and extend under the forward edge thereof to prevent upwardswing of the second door until said hull has been revolved sufficientlyto carry the edge of the opening ar und from over said lip.

1'7. In a washing machine, a pair of standards, a hull revolvablysupported between the standards, a cylinder revolvably positioned in thehull, and means for selectively retaining the hull at circumferentialpoints of travel, said hull having an opening therein, a cover for theopening, means for holding said cover stationary circumfercntially ofthe hull during rotation thereof, a pipe across the cover, nozzlesextending downwardly therefrom, and a flexible intake conduit leading tosaid pipe.

18. In a washing machine, standards, a hull revolvably supported by thestandards, said hull having an opening therein normally turned upwards,a cover for said hull opening in a plurality of separately movableparts, and means for holding said cover in a fixed position relative tocircumferential travel of the hull opening, and hinge'means connectingthe cover with the standards for raising the cover from over saidopening.

19. In a washing machine, standards, a hull revolvably supported by thestandards, said hull having an opening herein nor nally turned upwards,a cover for said hull opening in a plurality of separately movableparts, and means for holding said cover in a fixed position relative tocircumferential travel of the hull opening, and hinge means connectingthe cover with the standards for raising the cover from over aidopening, and a fluid supply pipe across said cover having openingsdischarging from the under side of said cover.

20. In a washing machine, standards, a hull revolvably supported by thestandards, said hull having an opening therein normally turned upwards,a cover for said hull opening in a plurality of separately movableparts, and means for holding said cover in a fixed position relative tocircumferential travel or the hull opening, and hinge means connectingthe cover with the standards for raising the cove" from over saidopening, and means automatically lifting said cover at its rear sideupon forward rotation of the hull.

21. In a washing machine, standards, a hull revolvably supported by thestandards, said hull having an opening therein normally turned upwards,a cover 101 said hull opening having a lip on its forw rd side, saidcover being in a plurality of separately movable parts, and means forholding said cover in a fixed position relative to circumferentialtravel of the hull opening, and hinge means connecting the cover withthe standards for raising the cover from over said opening, the lipmeans on the forward side oi the cover normally engaging the hull.opening edge, and means automatically lifting said cover at its rearside upon forward rotation of the hull and before said lip means becomedisengaged from the hull edge.

22. In a washing machine, standards, a hull revolvably supported by thestandards, said hull having an opening thereinnormally turned upwards, acover for said hull opening in a plurality or" separately movable parts,and means ior holding said cover in a fixed position relative tocircumferential travel of the hull opening, and hinge means connectingthe cover with the standards for raising the cover from over saidopening, means automatically lifting said cover upon forward rotation ofthe hull, and a fluid supply pipe carried by the cover movabletherewith.

, 23. In a laundry machine, a clothes-containing rotatable cage, arotatable tub outside of but mounted for rotation concentric with butindependently of the cage, means for rotating the cage, meansforrotating the tub independently of the cage, a hand-crank and meansfor operating the cage and the tub rotating means by the crankselectively.

24. In a laundry machine, a rotatable clothes containing cage, acylindrical easing adapted to hold fluid and concentrically adjacent thecage rotatable about the axis of but independently of the cage, aconduit for conducting fluid from the outside to the inside of themachine, means fixed relation with said member.

"WILLIAM JOSEPH BYRNE.

